Law Concerning the National Flag and Anthem

Law Concerning the National Flag and Anthem states:

1. Kimi Ga Yo is the national anthem of Japan
2. Hinomaru is the national flag of Japan.

In 1999, at a Hiroshima Prefecture high school's graduation ceremony, several teachers refused to participate in the raising of the flag and singing Kimi Ga Yo. The school principal, conflicted between the demands of the Ministry of Education and the teachers, eventually committed suicide. The government in part used this incident as excuse to pass the law.